⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:               ⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8)

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SELFISHNESS: All about me and what or whom I want living in me

 ME-tooism: the adopting of policies or practices similar or identical to those of a peer or competitor; the practice of imitating other people’s work or ideas.¹

 Have we become a society of “ME TOO?”

Pokemon Go: ME TOO. #Hashtag whatever: ME TOO. What you feel is what is real: ME TOO.

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 –Jesus forgives the adulteress for her transgressions, telling her, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” ¹ Me too? –or do I not forgive and remember others’ sins instead?

–Jesus washes the feet of His disciples. Me too?—or do I feel such an act is beneath me?

–Jesus takes time alone to pray to His Father.  Me too?—or am I too busy…doing?

–Jesus does not submit to Satan’s temptations. Me too?–or am I too weak in the Word to hold true?

–Jesus obeys His Father, saying, “Not my will, but thine, be done.”³ Me too? –or is it My will over Thine?

–Jesus suffered as the innocent victim, with no retaliation against His oppressors, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” ⁴ Me too?—or am I feeling wronged and angry, wanting to lash out?

–Jesus accepted the cross, sacrificing His life for others. Me too?–or is such a sacrifice too great to even consider?

–Jesus arose from the dead to live with His Father in heaven.  Me too???

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We are called to have the “same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5)— and not the mindset of friends, peers, celebrities, sports stars, or any other but Him. Jesus is the only One to follow. He is the only One who is real.

That very reality of Thomas touching the nail holes in the hands of our Lord and our Savior puts us in touch with His forgiving, loving, sacrificing mindset and spirit. And we think, “If only that was me too with the mindset and spirit of Christ.”

From Selfishness to Selflessness

^“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

(Sharon G. Tate blog 08/21/16) teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

¹http://www.thefreedictionary.com

²John 8:11

³Luke 22:41

⁴Luke 23:34